Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
  • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
  • F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
  • F28D1/053—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being straight
  • F28D1/0535—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being straight the conduits having a non-circular cross-section
  • F28D1/05366—Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
  • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
  • F28D1/0233—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with air flow channels
  • F28D1/024—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with air flow channels with an air driving element
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
  • F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
  • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
  • F28D2001/0253—Particular components
  • F28D2001/026—Cores
  • F28D2001/0273—Cores having special shape, e.g. curved, annular

Definitions

• the radiators or heat exchanger assemblies pre ⁇ sently used in conjunction with internal combustion engines of the vast majority of motor vehicles are of square or rectangular shape with a thickness dependent upon the numbe of rows of tubes used in the core assembly.
• the radiators generally include a top tank, a core assembly of fins and vertical tubes, and a receiver or bottom tank.
• the liquid coolant flows under pressure from the engine to the top tan then passes downwardly through the vertical tubes to the bottom tank and then back into the engine.
• the engine is provided with a fan which is disposed adjacent to one side of the core assembly and operates to suck air from the front of and through the core assembly. The air flowing through the core assembly dissipates the heat being trans ⁇ ferred by the fins from the tubes.
• radiators presently in use are limited in size or in frontal area by the allowable room within the engine enclosure compartment of the motor vehicle as well as by the effective sweep of the fan across the core assembly.
• the cross-flow type radiator design has several limitations of its own. Inherently, it is difficult to get the proper fan sweep of the core assembly because of the required horizontal length (transversely of the vehicle) of the core assembly, as an example.
• This invention relates to a new and improved heat exchanger assembly and, more particularly, to a generally annular or toroidal radiator wherein a generally annular core assembly is sandwiched between fore and aft liquid coolant distributor tanks, and wherein a rotary blower is encircled by the tanks and core assembly and is capable of drawing cooling air axially and discharging the same radial ⁇ ly outwardly through the core assembly and over the exterior of the fore and aft tanks achieving substantially one hundred percent sweep of the heat dissipating surfaces of the heat exchanger assembly.
• An important object of the present invention is the provision of a heat exchanger assembly fabricated from a relatively few number of parts and in which the fore and aft distribution tanks serve as heat dissipating means along with the entire core assembly. Still another object is the provision of a compac highly efficient, toroidal or generally annular heat ex ⁇ changer assembly wherein the liquid coolant is caused to flow in an axial direction through the core tubes in multi- pie passes.
• Another object is the provision of a heat ex ⁇ changer assembly design wherein the core assembly may be increased in area and volume for engines having larger heat dissipation requirements simply by increasing the length of the core assembly while utilizing the same fore and aft distribution tanks, headers, and heat-transmitting core fins.
• the heat exchanger assembly of the present invention comtemplates the provision of a generally annular radiator or header-core assembly wherein the tubes extend horiiontally or axially and are radially and cir- cumferentially spaced.
• the heat exchanger assembly further includes ring-like fore and aft distribution tanks which are securely fastened to each other and to the radiator core assembly which is sandwiched therein between.
• the fore and aft tanks are provided with internal and external heat transfer fins as well as radially extending, interior parti- tions or baffles which partially define a plurality of ⁇ ircumferentially spaced compartments within each tank when secured to the core assembly.
• Each of the compartments of one distributor tank is in fluid communication with two respective compartments of the other distribution tank.
• liquid coolant received within an inlet provided in one of the distribution tanks and which is in fluid communication with one of the compartments of such tank makes a multitude of horizontal or axial passes through the core assembly before it flows from an outlet provided in a respective one of the compartments which is, in turn, in fluid communication with the engine.
• the outer periphery of the blower wheel or fan is completely surrounded by the fore and aft distribution tank and radiator core assembly.
• air is drawn axially by the blower along the rotation ⁇ al axis thereof and discharged radially outwardly over an area extending approximately 360°.
• the air flow is caused to sweep substantially over and about one hundred percent of the exposed exterior surfaces of the core assem ⁇ bly as well as the fore and aft tanks.
• FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a heat exchanger assembly embodying the invention
• FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the heat exchanger assembly illustrated in Figure 1;
• FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken sub ⁇ stantially along line 3,3 of Figure 2 illustrating the interior construction of the normally forwardmost or fore distributor tank in detail;
• FIGURE 4 is a detail radial sectional view taken substantially along line 4,4 of Figure 2;
• FIGURES 5 and 6 are radial sectional views taken substantially along line 5,5 and line 6,6 respectively, of Figure 2 illustrating constructional details of the heat exchanger assembly;
• FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken sub ⁇ stantially along line 7,7 of Figure 2 illustrating the interior construction of the normally rearwardmost or aft distributor tank in detail;
• FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the aft distribution tank disassembly from the heat ex ⁇ changer assembly;
• FIGURE 9 is a exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger construction embodying the invention.
• FIGURES 10 and 11 are diagrammatic views illus ⁇ trating the flow paths of the liquid coolant as it passes through the heat exchanger assembly.
• a- heat exchanger assembly embodying the .in ⁇ vention is designated in its entirety by reference numeral 10.
• the heat exchanger assembly 10 includes four major com ⁇ ponents; namely, a normally fore distributor tank 11, a normally aft distributor task 12, a header-core assembly 13, and a blower fan 14.
• the header-core assembly 13 includes a pair of spaced, ring-like headers 15, 16 which are preferably made of relatively thin brass or like material.
• Each of the headers 15 and 16 is provided with a plurality of radially elongated slots therethrough which are adapted to be in axial alignment with the slots formed through the other headers 15, 16.
• Extending through each pair of aligned header slots is a tube 17, the tubes 17 are suitably secured to the headers 15, 16 and the end portion of each tube 17 projects outwardly beyond a respective one of the headers 15 and 16, as illustrated in Figure 4.
• the header-core assem ⁇ bly 13 also includes a plurality of axially spaced and parallel ring-like fins 18 which are positioned between the headers 15 and 16.
• Each ring-like fin 18 is preferably formed by arranging a plurality of generally arcuately shaped fin segments end-to-end. The fin segments are suit ⁇ ably secured to the tubes 17 which extend through them.
• Each of the headers 15, 16 has an annular outer peripheral portion 19 which extends radially beyond the outer peripher ⁇ al edges of the fins 18 and an annular inner portion 20 which projects radially inwardly of the inner peripheral edges of the fins 18.
• the annular outer portions 19 and the annular inner portion 20 of the header 15 are provided with holes 21, 22, respectively, therethrough which are in axial alignment with respective holes 21, 22 provided in the outer and inner annular portions 19 and 20, respectively, of the other header 16.
• the holes 21, 22 facilitate the assembly of the heat exchanger assembly 10 as will be pointed out hereinafter.
• a substantially U-shaped ring 23 is posi- tioned on each of the inwardly facing surfaces of both the inner and outer annular portions 20, 19 of each header 15, 16. Only portions of the U-shaped rings 23 positioned on the inwardly facing surfaces of the outer annular portions 19 of the headers 15, 16 are illustrated in Figure 9.
• the outermost rings 23 are provided with openings therethrough corresponding and in alignment with the holes 21 formed through the annular outer portions 19 of the headers 15 and 16 and, in a similar manner, the comparable radially inner ⁇ most rings, which are not shown in the drawings, are pro- vided with openings in alignment with the holes 22.
• each pair of axially spaced rings 23 Extend ⁇ ing between each pair of axially spaced rings 23 are a plurality of tubular spacers 24 (only one of which is illus ⁇ trated in Figure 9) .
• Each spacer 24 has its ends abutting a respective pair of rings 23 and is in alignment with a respective pair of axially aligned openings of the rings 23.
• the core tubes 17 and the fins 18, which are best illus ⁇ trated in Figure 9, are preferably made of copper or other material having comparable heat transmission properties.
• the heat exchanger assembly 10 includes a normally aft distributor tank 12 which is best illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9.
• the aft distributor tank 12 like the fore distributor tank 11, is preferably made of aluminum.
• the annular aft distributor tank 12 is substantially U- shaped in radial section, the annular bight portion 25 thereof lying substantially in a vertical plane and with the radially innermost annular leg 26 extending substantially axially.
• Extending radially inwardly from and integrally formed with the annular leg 26 of the aft distributor tank 12 is a radial flange 27.
• a radially outwardly extending flange 28 is similarly formed with the radially outermost annular leg 29 of the aft distributor tank 12.
• the annular flanges 27, 28 lie substantially in a vertical plane spaced and parallel to the plane containing the annular bight portion 25.
• the interior surface 30 of the annular bight portion 25 and the annular interior surfaces 31 and 32 of the annular legs 26 and 29, respectively, generally define " an annular pocket 33.
• the annular pocket 33 is divided into four arcuately extending compartments 34, .35, 36 and 37 by cir- cumferentially spaced, radially extending baffles or parti- tions 38.
• the baffles or partitions 38 are preferably integrally formed with the main U-shaped body of the aft distributor tank 12 and each partition 38 extends axially from the interior surface 30 of the bight portion 25 to the plane containing the radial flanges 27, 28.
• Each partition 38 also extends radially between the interior surfaces 31 and 32 of the annular legs 26 and 29, respectively. It is to be understood that all of the compartments 34, 35, 36 and 37 have substantially the same arcuate length.
• the exterior surface of the aft distributor tank 12 is provided with a plurality of cir ⁇ umferentially spaced, radially extending heat transmitting fins 39.
• the exterior fins 39 like the interior partitions 38, are preferably integrally formed with the main U-shaped body of the aft distributor tank 12.
• the bight portion 25 partially defining the arcuate compartment 34 of the aft distributor tank 12 is provided with a liquid cool ⁇ ant inlet opening 40 therethrough.
• An enlarged inlet fit ⁇ ting 41 has a portion thereof encircling the inlet opening 40 in order to provide fluid passage for liquid coolant to flow into the aft distributor tank compartment 34.
• the inlet opening 40 is circumferentially spaced substantially midway between the radial partitions 38 partially defining the radial extent of the aft distributor tank compartment 34 and normally the compartment 34 has the highest elevation of all the compart ⁇ ments 34, 35, 36, and 37 when the heat exchanger assembly 10 is in operation.
• both fittings 41, 43 are integrally formed with and made of the same material as the aft distributor tank 12.
• outlet opening 42 is substantially in vertical alignment with the inlet open ⁇ ing 40, as viewed in Figure 7, and is arcuately spaced substantially midway between the partitions 38 partially defining the radial ends of the aft distributor tank com ⁇ partment 37.
• a plurality of arcuately extending and radially spaced internal fins 44 are provided in each of the aft dis ⁇ tributor tank compartments 34, 35, 36, and 37.
• the internal fins 44 are substan ⁇ tially coextensive with the radial lengths of the aft dis- tributor tank compartments 34, 35, 36, and 37, but as shown in Figure 4, project axially from the interior surface 30 of the bight portion 25 a distance less than the axial distance the annular legs 26, 29 project from the same interior surface 30.
• the normally forwardmost or fore distributor tank 11 is constructed similarly to the aft distributor tank 12, described above.
• the fore distributor tank 11 is not provided with structure comparable to the inlet and outlet openings 40, 42, respectively or inlet and outlet fittings 41, 43, respectively.
• the fore and aft distributor tanks 11 and 12 are essentially mirror images of each other, and, therefore, the construction and structure of the fore distributor tank 11 will not be described in detail. It should also be under ⁇ stood that except for the arcuately extending tank compart ⁇ ments 45, 46, 47, and 48, each structural detail of the fore distributor tank 11 is designated with the same reference character as the comparable structural detail of the aft distributor tank 12.
• a horizontal plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger assembly 10 and containing the partitions 38 defining the arcuate ends of the fore tank compartments 45, 46, 47, and 48 passes through the aft distributor tank compartments 35 and 36 substantially midway between their arcuate ends.
• the fore dis ⁇ tributor tank 11, aft distributor tank 12, and header-core assembly 13 are assembled together by means of suitable nut and bolt means, designated generally by reference character 49, and elongated bolt and nut means 50 associated with the tubular spacers 24.
• the outer and inner peripheral edge portions 19, 20 respectively, of header.15 abut the outer and inner radially extending legs 28, 27, respectively of the fore distribution tank 11.
• Suitable gasket means (not shown) are provided between such abutting surfaces in order to provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween.
• the inner peripheral edge portion of the header 16 abuts the radially inwardly extending flange 27 on leg 26 of the aft distributor tank as shown in Figure 5.
• the radially outwardly extending flange 28 integrally formed with the leg 29 of aft distributor tank 12 is firmly clamped or secured to the outer peripheral edge portion 19 of the header 16.
• Annular gasket means of the same kind as provided berween the annular joints between the fore distributor tank 11 and the header-core assembly 13 are also provided between the engaging surfaces of the header 16 of the head-core assembly 13 and the aft distributor tank 12 so as to make such an ⁇ nular joints fluid-tight.
• the fore and aft distributor tanks 11 and 12 and the header-core assembly 13 are further firmly fastened together by means of the elongated bolt and nut means 50, the bolts of which extend through the tubular spacers 24 which are ⁇ ircumferentially spaced around the header-core assembly 13 and extend in an axial direction.
• the tubular spacers 24 maintain the proper spacing between the headers 15 and 16 and also serve to strengthen and rigidify the header-core assembly 13 once the elongated bolt and nut means 50 are securely tightened.
• the heat transmission capacity of the heat exchanger assembly may be readily varied by simply varying the thick ⁇ ness or axial length of the header-core assembly 10 and without the need of changing the diameter thereof. Further- more, the same fore and aft distributor tanks 11 and 12 may be used with the new header-core assembly 13.
• each of the core tubes opens into a respective one of the fore distributor tank compartments 45, 46, 47., or 48 and the opposite end of such core tube 17 is in fluid communication with a respective one of the aft distributor tank compart ⁇ ments 34, 35, 36 or 37.
• the coolant • whose temperature is to be lowered is received in the aft distributor tank compartment 34 through the inlet opening 40 provided in the wall of such compartment.
• the coolant then flows axially forwardly through those core tubes 17 which have an end in fluid communication with the aft distributor tank compartment 34 as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 10.
• the coolant entering the aft distributor tank compartment 34 is divided or split into two streams of equal volume; one stream flowing axially forwardly to com ⁇ partment 45 and the other stream axially flowing forwardly to compartment 48 of the fore distributor tank 11. Each of the streams then, in effect, flows arcuately downwardly.
• the coolant received in the fore distributor tank compart ⁇ ment 48 then flows axially rearwardly to the aft distributor tank compartment 35 through respective core tubes 17 extend- ing between and providing fluid communication between such compartments 48 and 35.
• the core tubes 17 extending between and providing fluid communication between the fore distributor tank compartment 45 and the aft distributor tank 36 serve as passage means for the flow of the coolant between such compartments 45 and 36.
• the cool ⁇ ant received in the aft»distributor tank compartment 36 again reverses its direction of flow 180° and flows axially forwardly through certain of the core tubes.
• the innermost peripheral annular surfaces of the fore and aft distributor tanks 11 and 12, respectively, and the header- core assembly 13 generally define the annular outer limit of a fan rotor compartment, designated generally by reference character 51.
• the rotary blower fan 14 is arranged within the fan rotor compartment 51 and is preferably a centrifugal type or one in which air is drawn axially into the fan and is discharged, under pressure, radially outwardly.
• the hub 52 of fan rotor which is designated in its entirety by reference character 53, is adapted to be attached to a rotary drive shaft (not shown) which, in turn, is drivingly connected to a prime mover by any suitable conventional power transmission means.
• the mechanism and means for rotating the fan rotor 53 forms no part of the present invention.
• cooling air is drawn axially rear ⁇ wardly through the rotary blower fan 14 and is discharged radially outwardly, under pressure, by the fan impeller blades 54.
• the cooling air discharged by the fan impeller blades 54 flows around the core tubes 17 and through the radial spaces or passageways defined by the header-core heat-transmitting fins 18 so as to dissipate the heat.of the fluid, being circulated in the heat exchanger assembly 10.
• the fan-generated air stream is also caused to flow through the radial spaces between and over the exterior heat-transmitting fins 39 provided on the exterior of the fore and aft distributor tanks 11, 12, respectively.
• the rotary blower fan 14 delivers substanti- ally all of the air it receives axially in a radial direc ⁇ tion through the radial spaces between the fins 18 and around the axially extending tubes 17 and over the exterior heat-transm ⁇ tting fins 39.
• substantially all of the cooling air which is moved by the blower fan 14 through and around the heat exchanger structure is brought into relative ⁇ ly close heat exchange relationship with the fluid being cooled.
• the cooling air flowing through the header-core assembly 13 and over the fore and aft distributor tanks 11, 12, - respectively is substantially unobstructed, and this provides a more efficient heat exchange system.
• the internal arcuate heat-transmitting fins 44 of the fore and aft distributor tanks 11 and 12 not only contribute to a more intimate heat transfer relation between the liquid coolant or fluid being circulated within the distributor tank compartments and the cooling air but also cause the liquid coolant to flow more uniformly and smoothly without turbulence in such distributor tank compartments to further enhance the transfer-of heat.
• the heat exchange efficiency is further increased by virtue of the fact that the liquid coolant travels in circuitous paths through the heat ex- changer assembly 10 thereby increasing the time in which it and the cooling air are in heat exchange relation.
• the fore and aft distri- butor tanks function as efficient heat- transmitting means and not merely as a means for collecting and distributing liquid coolant as in conventional heat exchanger structures.
• the..amount of heat transferred is proportional to the product of the heat exchange surface area and the amount of air moving through and over such heat exchange surface area in a given time inverval, it will be appreciated that, in comparison to conventional heat exchange units, the amount of heat trans ⁇ fer by the heat exchange assembly 10 of the present inven- tion is markedly greater.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=22154452

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1980
  • 1980-07-21 JP JP50181080A patent/JPS57501139A/ja active Pending
  • 1980-07-21 EP EP19810901387 patent/EP0056029A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1980-07-21 WO PCT/US1980/000935 patent/WO1982000342A1/en unknown
  • 1980-07-21 AU AU71755/81A patent/AU7175581A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events